THROUGHOUT the centenary of the First World War, we have been remembering the soldiers from the Loughborough area who lost their lives while serving their country.

Here, with the help of Marigold Cleeve and a small number of researchers from the Loughborough Carillon Tower and War Memorial Museum, we look back at more of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in May1918 .

John Arthur Wain.

John Arthur Wain was born in Loughborough in late 1898, and baptised on New Year’s Day 1899 at All Saints Church, Loughborough.

He was the son of Thomas Potter Wain and Mary Lillian Wain (née Harker) who were married at St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, on 11th December 1881.

Thomas Wain, who was a domestic gardener, and his wife Mary had twelve children, but only 10 survived to adulthood.

John had four brothers Richard, Thomas, David, and Ralph and five sisters Rose, Florence, Laura, Monica and Phyllis.

In 1901 the family lived at 77 Oxford Street, Loughborough, but by 1911 had moved to Cambridge Villa, 1 Chestnut Street. John was a chorister at St. Peter’s Church, Loughborough, for about ten years.

John enlisted in February 1917 and joined the Leicestershire Regiment as Private 46408. He was later transferred to the 1/4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment as Signaller 43770.

There were several layers of Signalling duties in the Army linked in with the levels of command: Army, Corps, Division, and Battalion.

The duties of the first three (highest) levels were done by the Royal Engineers, but at battalion level these duties were carried out by Signallers, who were usually called this rather than by their official rank of Private, Corporal, etc.

At battalion level the signalling duties usually meant communicating between the Company (4 companies of approximately 250 to a battalion for most of the war) and Platoon commanders (4 platoons to a Company) and their superiors in the trenches.

At this level of command and with the technology available signalling usually meant being a Runner and carrying messages by hand to the appropriate officers.

The life expectancy of a Runner was really rather short, particularly if it meant running back across No Man’s Land to carry a message back to Battalion HQ in the middle of a battle with shells falling everywhere.

A rather safer duty was telephone signalling but this was more limited at battalion level than the higher levels.

Although signallers were also taught the use of semaphore flags standing up and waving a flag around was not considered the safest option when bullets and shells were flying.

Trench signalling lamps were occasionally used but it was always extremely dangerous to use these to transmit towards the front of the battlefield as it would attract enemy rifle fire.

Although John’s service record has not survived it is known that John had only been in France a few months before he was killed in April 1918.

The 1/4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment received a few reinforcements in December 1917 and it is likely that John joined the battalion during this month.

In December 1917 the 1/4th Battalion did two trench tours in the area of Beuvry, with rest breaks at Beuvry and Béthune before moving to Annequin on 20th December. On Christmas Day the battalion was in brigade support and moved up to the front line on Boxing Day.

Having returned to Divisional Reserve on New Year’s Day 1918 the men enjoyed a Christmas dinner and sing-song in marquees decorated with lights and tinsel on 3rd January.

The battalion was twice back in the front line in trenches knee-deep in mud over January and was also occupied on trench repair work.

On 24th January, just after they had moved to Busnes, the men learnt that there was to be a major army reorganisation and that the 1/4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment was to be disbanded. This news almost destroyed the men’s morale, but they continued training as normal for a few days.

The break-up began on 29th January and on following day some of the officers and a third of the men were sent to join the 2/4th Lincolnshires at Mazières.

The combined battalions of 1/4th and 2/4th Lincolnshires now became known as the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment.

In early February there were inspections and musketry training after which the 4th Battalion moved via Barly and Hendecourt to Clonmel Camp, Hamelincourt, to erect bomb-proof partitions around the huts.

Their next move was to Mory l’Abbaye Camp in Brigade reserve where the men dug shelter trenches and improved trench defences.

Two days of training followed, and then on 18th February the battalion moved to the front line trenches east of Bullecourt, overlooking Riencourt and Hendecourt.

Here they were less than 50 yards from the enemy’s front posts and the battalion’s snipers had lots of practice at close range.

From 18th February until 19th March companies of the battalion were either in the front line east of Bullecourt or in the reserve line in front of Ecoust on working parties and nightly patrols.

On 19th March the battalion proceeded to Mory Camp North in reserve. On 21st March, when the Germans opened their Spring Offensive, the battalion was ordered out in artillery formation as a reserve for the trenches at the junction of the Noreuil and Ecoust Switch.

They were then moved up to the firing line. In the following two days, having been outflanked by the enemy, they were forced to withdraw to the line in front of Mory and then, under heavy enemy machine gun fire, to a position in front of the Behagnies-Ervillers road.

Although on the 24th March they managed to drive the enemy back to Mory on 25th the battalion was ordered to withdraw to Bucquoy. In the five days of fighting the battalion had suffered 206 casualties.

From Bucquoy the battalion set out cross-country to Sus St. Leger and on 29th March entrained at Frevent for Houdain.

On 1st April they were sent to the Ypres Salient, entrained for Proven and marched to School Camp, Wateau.

After two days cleaning up and resting the battalion went to the front south of the Zonnebeke-Broodseinde road. They entrained at Quintin station for Borry Farm and marched three miles along duckboard tracks to the trenches. Everywhere there were shell holes filled with water.

On 12th April they left Borry Farm station for Brandhoek and marched to huts at Toronto Camp. On 13th April the battalion entrained at Brandhoek for Godwaersveldt and marched to huts west of Berthen.

On the following day, having moved forward to huts by the Locre-Dranoutre road, the battalion was sent to the front line between Feutar Farm and Crucifix Corner.

The enemy repeatedly attacked the front line and finally broke through. This resulted in hand-to-hand fighting and the remnants of the battalion were forced to withdraw to huts at Locre.

There were 312 casualties and the battalion was now so weak it was reorganised into two companies instead of four.

On 17th April the battalion was sent to the assembly positions at Locre Wood and were hit by a heavy enemy barrage, incurring 23 more casualties.

On this day John was severely wounded and moved to a hospital in Wimereux. He died there, aged 19, on 21st April 1918.

John’s parents received a letter from the hospital stating that their son had died.

The letter added that he was wounded in both legs, the left leg having been amputated, and the right was badly fractured.

During the short time he was in hospital everything possible was done for him and he was very plucky.

His parents also received a letter of sympathy from John’s previous employers in Loughborough.

John was buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery Grave XI. E. 8. He is remembered on the memorial in the former St. Peter’s church building, Loughborough, and on the Carillon.

John’s brother David, who served with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, died of wounds in 1916.

Albert William Hanford.

Albert William Hanford was born in Loughborough in the summer of 1887 and baptised on 3rd July 1887 at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough.

He was the eldest son of Joseph Henry Hanford, a hosiery salesman and sample manager for Messrs Hanford and Miller, hosiery manufacturers, Loughborough, and his wife Emma (née Rodgers) who were married in Loughborough in 1882.

Albert had three brothers Victor, Joseph and Frederick and one sister Beatrice.

In 1891 the family lived at 3 Ward’s End, Loughborough, but later moved to Hill Crest, 18 Fearon Street. Albert was the nephew of Alderman Wiliiam Hanford J.P., Mayor of Loughborough 1905 -1906.

Albert became a pupil teacher with Emmanuel Church and in 1905 and 1906 passed the annual exams set by the Diocese of Peterborough Education Board for teaching religious knowledge.

He then studied at Nottingham University College. As a qualified school teacher for Leicestershire County Council he taught in several Loughborough schools before taking a position as Assistant Master at Quorn National School.

In 1912 he was summoned for severely caning a ten year old scholar William Smith, but the case was dismissed.

Albert joined the colours in January 1915. He trained for a commission with the Officers Training Corps at Nottingham University College and on 25th October 1915 was gazetted as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant.

He was then sent to the 50th Training Reserve Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment at Prees Heath, Shropshire. Initially formed as a Service battalion on 10th April 1915 this became a Reserve battalion under orders of the Army’s 35th Division. Albert was a musketry instructor with the 50th Battalion.

On 13th August 1917 Albert was posted to the 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Birkenhead) of the Cheshire Regiment.

This was a Bantam battalion formed at Birkenhead in 1914 by Alfred Bigland MP for soldiers below the minimum Army regulation height of 160cm (5ft 3in).

The battalion was adopted by the War Office on 15th August 1915 and had landed at Le Havre in January 1916.

Albert was promoted to the position of Lieutenant and joined the 15th Battalion on the Ypres Salient in November 1917.

On 1st November 1917 the battalion was in the line on the south and south-east of Houthulst Forest, near the village of Koekuit, where they had just suffered two gas shell bombardments.

After four days rest at De Wippe Camp on 5th November the battalion entrained at Ondank Station for Proven and marched to Putney Camp. Here training took place until 14th November.

On 15th November the battalion returned by train to Ondank and marched to P Camp near Poperinghe. As there was no training ground at P Camp the men were given specialist classes in Lewis guns, rifle grenades, bombing and first aid.

On 24th November the battalion entrained on the light railway for Kempton Park station and proceeded to the front line south-west of Poelcappelle.

As they moved forward they were shelled by the enemy, causing 19 casualties. Once in the line the men were positioned in muddy shell holes and no patrols were possible.

The enemy artillery remained very active. After four days the battalion entrained at Hibou Farm on the light railway for Reading Siding and marched to Siege Camp at Elverdinghe.

During December 1917 the battalion was mainly in various camps (Huddlestone Camp, Siege Camp, School Camp west of Poperinghe, and Morat Camp near Brielen) training and employed on road work. Christmas and the New Year 1918 were spent at School Camp and training continued there and at Elverdinghe until 15th January.

On 16th January the battalion returned to the front line trenches at Poelcappelle, on 20th went to the support trenches and on 24th into dugouts to work on shelter improvement. After a break at Huddlestone Camp there was a further trench tour during which the battalion provided wiring parties.

On 9th February the battalion entrained at Elverdinghe for Emilie Camp, moving to Cambridge Camp for working parties two days later. From 16th – 21st February there was training at Bridge Camp, after which the battalion went into the trenches at Houthulst Forest and carried out several raids on enemy positions.

From 1st-8th March the battalion was in billets at Kempton Park, Gournier Farm and Caddie dugouts while undergoing training. On 9th March they moved into G.H.Q. Reserve and took a train to Noyon Camp near Crombeke. Here they took part in training and competitions in rapid firing and guard mounting as well as playing football.

On 23rd March the battalion entrained at Rousbrugge station for Méricourt l’Abbé and marched to billets in Suzanne. On the following day they were ordered to proceed at once to Maricourt to support the front line troops against the German Spring Offensive.

The battalion went into position on the Bray-Méaulte road, and then on the Buire-Surancre road until 30th March and during this time incurred heavy losses.

After four days in billets at La Houssaye for cleaning up and training the battalion moved on 4th April to Herissart and on 7th April to Hedauville.

On 8th April they went into the front line trenches north of Albert, with the battalion HQ in a cellar at Bouzincourt. Here they were heavily bombarded by the enemy.

Following this the battalion had three quieter days in reserve at Sunken Road, Bouzincourt. On 14th April they moved into billets at Hedauville but the enemy then shelled the village, causing more casualties and the battalion was forced to move.

On 14th April the battalion returned to the trenches, this time east of Martinsart, where with another battalion, made a small advance.

A concerted attack on the enemy began on 22nd April. The objective was reached but the attacking patrols under the command of Lieutenant Albert Hanford encountered strong opposition. Albert was severely wounded and died as he was being carried in by stretcher bearers. He was aged 30.

Albert was buried in Varennes Military Cemetery, Grave II. C. 2.

Albert’s Lieutenant-Colonel wrote to his father: ‘Your son was killed by machine gun fire whilst leading his men to the attack.

“The unit on our left was held up by a strong point, and your boy attacked in conjunction with the other battalion. He did his utmost and by his good leadership ensured the attempt being made in the strongest and best way possible.

“We all called him “Gus” and he was one of the most popular officers we had.

“He has done his duty consistently and well always and we miss him very much. We buried him yesterday beside his Company Commander.

“The deepest sympathy of all officers, N.C.O.’s and men of this battalion is extended to you and I trust God may give you and your wife extra strength to bear this terrible blow.”

The Chaplain wrote later that Lieutenant Hanford was buried with full military honours, adding: “I knew your son well and had the highest esteem for him as a man and the warmest admiration for him as a soldier.”

Albert is remembered on the Nottingham University College Officer Training Corps Memorial, on the memorial in the former St. Peter’s Church building, Loughborough, and on the Carillon.

Walter Gould

Walter Gould was born in Loughborough in 1889 and baptised at Emmanuel Church on 8th November 1889. (Image: Photos supplied by Marigold Cleeve)

Walter Gould was born in Loughborough in 1889 and baptised at Emmanuel Church on 8th November 1889.

He was the son of James Gould and his wife Fanny (née Bramley) who were married on 3rd October 1874 at Emmanuel Church. Walter’s father was a bricklayer’s labourer.

Walter had four brothers John, Harry, Arthur and Ernest and two sisters Sarah and Florence (known as ‘Flossie’).Three other brothers, all called William, and one sister Ellen had died in infancy. Walter’s sister Sarah (Mrs. Robinson) died in 1904 at the age of 29.

The Gould family lived in Ward’s End, Loughborough. In 1891 they were at 10 Court 6, and after that at 13 Ward’s End. After Walter’s mother died in 1911 and his father two years later Walter lived with brother Arthur and sister-in-law Elizabeth at 21 Ward’s End.

Walter attended Emmanuel Church and when he left school he became a brickyard labourer for Messrs. Tucker.

In September 1906, when he was16, he was fined four shillings at Loughborough Petty Sessions for letting off fireworks in the street.

Walter enlisted when war broke out and joined the 7th (Service) Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment as Private 12857. Walter’s service record has not survived and his exact date of enlistment is unknown but from the Depot at Glen Parva he was sent with the 7th Battalion to Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot.

Here the emphasis was on individual training, squad and platoon drill. At the beginning of 1915 the battalion began route marches and more strenuous training.

In March the battalion moved into billets in the Andover area and in April to Cholderton on Salisbury Plain. On 25th June they were inspected by King George V at Sidbury Hill and on 29th July 1915 they received orders to proceed to France.

Walter’s battalion gathered with the 37th Division at Tilques, near St. Omer.

In September the 7th Battalion was sent to the area of Berles-au-Bois, south-west of Arras. The battalion remained in this area around Bienvillers and Bailleulmont until April 1916 and was engaged in localised operations seeking a tactical advantage.

When not in the trenches being subjected to enemy shelling the 7th Leicesters received intensive training in bombing, Lewis gunnery, visual signalling and a host of other activities.

In April 1916 they were moved to the Doullens area and formed working parties to cut down trees and prepare brushwood for the front line as well as preparing the support trenches in the area.

In May they worked on building a new railway line between Le Bret and Bienvillers-au-Bois. Towards the end of May the battalion returned to the trenches in the Bienvillers-Bailleulmont area.

At the beginning of July the 7th Battalion moved on to the Somme. They were at Fricourt on 13th July and at Mametz Wood and in the attack on Bazentin-le-Petit on 14th July.

By 14th July 1916 the 7th Battalion had suffered 553 casualties on the Somme.

On 6th August 1916 the 7th Battalion took over a section of battered trenches at Agnez-lès-Duisans, near Arras. On 12th September, after ten days training at Denier and Sars-le-Bois, the battalion returned by train to the Somme and bivouacked outside Montauban north-east of Bernafay Wood.

On 25th September they fought very bravely and successfully at Gueudecourt in an action which was part of the Battle of Morval. On 4th October the battalion entrained once more for the north and the countryside of Loos, taking over positions opposite the Hohenzollern Redoubt with rest billets at Mazingarbe, Philosophe, or Vermelles.

Training at Cauchy-à-la-Tour and Houtkerque followed until 12th February 1917.

On 13th February the battalion entrained at Proven for Fouquerieul and marched to billets in the tobacco factory in Béthune. Moving on to Labourse they were back in the trenches in the Hohenzollern sector on 15th February, going into the front line on 21st February.

Breaks from the trenches were taken in Noyelles. In March 1917 the battalion experienced what one soldier called ‘the bombardment of our lives’.

On 29th March the battalion entrained at Noyelles for Saulty-L’Arbret and marched to La Cauchie and on to Moyenville.

On 4th April the battalion went into the front line at St. Leger Croisilles, with breaks at Moyenville. From 15th to 23rd April the battalion was in training at Bailleulval before returning to the trenches at St. Leger Croisilles.

On 28th April the battalion was in action at the Battle of Arleux and on 3rd May in reserve for the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt, moving into the front line on 4th May.

From 4th -11th May the battalion suffered from very heavy enemy shelling.

From 12th-31st May the battalion was withdrawn for training at Bienvillers. Further training and trench tours followed in the Moyenville area in June, July and August, followed by a break in Hamelincourt.

On 25th and 26th August the battalion marched to Gouy-en-Artois and then Beaufort for training. After a further move to Hauteville for more training and a football tournament and boxing competition, both of which the 7th Leicesters won, on 16th September the battalion entrained at Savy station for Caestre.

On 23rd September the battalion marched to Berthen. On 26th September they moved by bus to Scottish Wood and then to Bedford House as reserve in the forward area. After two days rest at Micmac Camp the battalion was back in the forward area on 29th.

The 3rd Battle of Ypres had been raging for two months and the ground was full of water-logged shell holes, which had to be negotiated over duckboards.

The 7th Leicesters joined the battle on the night of the 30th September, marching up to Polygon Wood, which had been captured by the Australians.

The 9th Leicesters took over positions in the right half of the Polygon sector just outside the wood with the 7th Battalion behind them in support and the 6th Leicesters in reserve.

On 1st October the enemy began a heavy barrage. The Leicesters nevertheless pushed forward. An intense artillery duel followed on 2nd October before the battalion was relieved and marched south-east of Zillebeke Lake to Wiltshire Farm.

On 4th October the battalion moved up again to south of Zillebeke Lake, bivouacking there. On the following day they were back in the support line west of Polygon Wood.

On 6th October two companies moved up to the front line at Reutel, with the other two companies in support. On 10th October, amid a hostile barrage, the battalion was relieved and moved to Anzac Camp.

On the 11th October they entrained at Ouderdom station for Ebblinghem and marched to billets in La Carnois. After four days rest they marched to Les Ciseaux and were taken by bus to dugouts in the railway embankments at Shrapnel Corner. After remaining here until 24th October they moved to B Camp at Chateau Segard for reorganisation and training.

After three days cable laying at Clapham Junction at the beginning of November the battalion returned to B Camp before moving to dugouts on the Zillebeke Bund on 7th November and to the front line on the following day.

After returning to A Camp at Chateau Segard on 13th November the battalion moved on to Devonshire Camp in the Reninghelst area and on 17th began a five day transfer by march to Coupigny.

On 25th November they moved again to Frevillers for training. On 30th November the battalion received urgent orders to entrain at Savy for Tincourt.

On 1st December 1917 the battalion went into the front and support lines near Tincourt, moving into the support trenches at Epehy on 4th.

Back in the front line from the 8th-11th December the battalion installed wiring, improved trenches and dug a new front line. After a break at Villers Faucon they returned to the front line from 16th-20th. On Christmas Eve the battalion returned to the trenches for four days, but were given their Christmas dinner at Saulcourt on 29th December.

The new year of 1918 began with a four day trench tour, followed by training at Lieramont and Haut Allaines until 19th January. On the 20th the battalion moved to Epehy by light railway and began another trench tour before moving into Brigade Reserve at Saulcourt on 28th.

On 4th February the battalion moved into support at Epehy. Relieved on 7th February the battalion moved by light railway to Moislains, where training took place until 18th February. The battalion then moved to B Camp, Templeux-la-Fosse, and worked on the trenches and railway at Flamincourt.

From 24th -28th February the battalion was based at Adrian Camp, Villers Faucon, for wiring work and trench digging.

In March it became clear that the Germans were planning a Spring Offensive.

On the morning of the enemy assault, 21st March 1918, the 7th Battalion was holding the left hand portion of the front between Pezières and Epehy village when it was attacked by German stormtroopers.

The battle for Epehy raged all day.

On 22nd March the battalion was ordered to retreat towards the old Somme battlefield of 1916, crossing the Péronne Canal to Aizecourt-le-Bas and Feuillaucourt and taking up position on a ridge to the north of Hem. During the retreat the battalion was severely bombarded.

On 23rd April the battalion was ordered to occupy a line east and north-east of Epinette Wood but after the enemy continued to attack the line was drawn back to the Peronne-Nurlu road, next to the Midenette, then to the hill south of Moislains.

On 24th the enemy continued their advance and the battalion was withdrawn south-west of Maurepas and to billets at Suzanne. Between 25th and 30th March the battalion moved from Bray-sur-Somme to Allonville. Casualties between 21st and 20th March numbered 456.

On 2nd April the battalion entrained at St. Roch, Amiens, for Hopoutre and were transported by lorry to Monmouthshire Camp, Dranoutre, for reorganisation, cleaning up and inspections.

Between the 4th and 8th April they were accommodated in a series of camps before entraining at Zevecten siding on 9th for Scottish Wood Camp. After two days in support at Manduratu Camp the battalion went into the trenches and held the line. Between 20th and 22nd April forty-four Ordinary Ranks, including Walter, were gassed.

Walter was taken to a hospital in Boulogne but died from gas poisoning, aged 28, on 28th April 1918.

During his time with the 7th Leicesters he had been promoted to Lance Corporal and was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery on the battlefields of the Somme in July 1916.

Walter was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Grave IX. A. 51.

He is remembered on the memorial in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, and on the Carillon.

John Herbert Putt.

John Herbert Putt was born at Canaan, Rempstone, Nottinghamshire, in 1894.

He was the son of Joseph Putt and his first wife Harriet (née Tipple) who were married on 23rd January 1883 at St. Margaret’s Church, Drayton, Norfolk.

Between 1883 and 1891 John’s father was a railway porter in Great Witchingham, Norfolk, but by 1901 he had become a bricklayer’s labourer in Loughborough, and in 1911 he was a labourer for Loughborough Borough Council.

When the Putt family came to Loughborough they lived firstly at 29 Rosebery Street and then at 127 Leopold Street.

John had three brothers James, Joseph and George, and three sisters Alice, Harriet and Gertrude. Alice, however, died in 1917 at the age of 25.

When John was eleven his mother died and in 1906 his father married a widow, Mary Taylor (née Harris) who had seven children, of whom at least three had already left home.

John now had four step-brothers Arthur, George, Ernest and Samuel Taylor, and three step-sisters Ellen, Elsie and Lillian Taylor. In 1908, however, John’s stepmother applied to the Loughborough Petty Sessions Court for a separation order from his father.

She testified that John’s father used foul and abusive language towards her, had threatened to murder her on several occasions and had assaulted her. The separation order was granted.

John’s father and step-mother appear to be back together in 1911 but in 1914 they were living apart again, Joseph Putt being in Wellington Street and Mary Putt in Paget Street.

In August 1914 Joseph Putt was once again summoned to court for trying to force an entrance into his wife’s home in Paget Street, breaking a window with a bucket and threatening to put a bullet through her head.

When the summons was delivered to Joseph Putt the police found him packing up to leave and Joseph did not appear in court.

The Bench issued a warrant for his arrest if he ever came back to town. Joseph died in the Basford area in 1924.

When John left school he became a labourer. He subsequently worked as a dairyman for Mr. Tom Sleigh, farmer and dairyman of Forest Road, Loughborough.

He enlisted in May 1916 and joined D Battery of the 86th (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery as Gunner 149601. He would then have been sent to one of the Artillery training depots.

John’s service record has not survived and as the war diary of the 86th Brigade does not record the occasions on which the brigade received batches of ordinary rank reinforcements it is difficult to determine when John might have joined the brigade on the Western Front. He is likely, however, to have been with the 86th Brigade by January 1917 at the latest.

On 1st January 1917 the 86th Brigade left Doullens and marched via Amplier to Hébuterne. Close to Hébuterne they improved gun positions and registered the guns.

From 9th-15th January the brigade carried out successful operations before moving into reserve at Sailly-au-Bois for reorganisation.

The brigade returned to Hébuterne towards the end of the month. In February the brigade was ordered to move to selected positions south-west of Serre.

From here, on 27th February, the brigade engaged all targets from dawn to dusk and carried out steady firing at points north-east of Pusieux throughout the night. On the following two days and intervening night the brigade continued with steady fire.

In early March the brigade was firing on selected points south of Bucquoy and north-west of Pusieux and, using the Howitzers, carried out wire cutting near Arnim and Bucquoy.

When the enemy evacuated Bucquoy, Achiet-le-Grand and several other villages the brigade was transferred to Beauval and ordered to prepare positions just north of Arras. From 4th-7th April, after a preliminary bombardment, the brigade began cutting the German front line wire.

On 9th April, the first day of the Battle of Arras, the guns moved forward as the infantry consolidated a new front line. By 15th April the enemy had retreated to the Gavrelle-Oppy line and the brigade moved forward again.

For the remainder of April the brigade was continuously in action wire-cutting, bombarding Gavrelle and covering all approaches to Gavrelle with intermittent fire. Casualties in the brigade numbered 47.

For the first fortnight of May the brigade was employed digging new positions near Athies and in action at the front at Roeux. After five days rest at Hermin and Guarbecque the brigade was transferred to the Ypres Salient, with headquarters at Dickebusch, a move which was made extremely difficult by enemy shelling of roads in the Ypres area.

After setting up new positions the brigade began its usual routine of wire cutting, regular bombardment and night firing on enemy roads, tracks and communication trenches.

On 7th June the Battle of Messines began and for the next ten days the brigade was bombarding the enemy in the day and issuing harassing fire at night.

On 20th June the brigade moved to the other side of Reninghelst, between Renin and Abeele. From 21st June-9th July the brigade was cleaning up, resting and training (riding and driving drill, gun drill, signalling schemes) as well as participating in sports.

On 10th July the brigade began preparing positions north of the Ypres-Comines Canal. D Battery went into action defending the line on the night of the 13th, the other batteries joining on the next day.

Between the 23rd July and 2nd August, in the opening stages of the Passchendaele Offensive, the brigade issued a number of intense bombardments as well as harassing night fire and was shelled by the enemy in return. Withdrawn to the wagon lines on 3rd August the brigade then moved up to the Ypres Ramparts where the same firing patterns continued until 18th November. From 1st-18th December the brigade was resting at Watou before returning to the Ramparts at Ypres.

On New Year’s Day 1918 the brigade was at the front just south of Poelcappelle as the line gradually moved forward. On 8th February the brigade began entraining at Hopoutre for Amiens and proceeded via Longueau to Hamelet and Vaire where they rested until 2nd March.

The brigade then went into reserve and marched to the wagon lines at Buire. Supplies of ammunition were taken to new positions and the guns calibrated at Peronne.

On 21st March, the first day of the German Spring Offensive, the 86th Brigade in the wagon lines was bombarded by the enemy, causing heavy casualties, and was ordered to withdraw to another position.

The withdrawal continued over the next few days. One gun was lost and there were further casualties among the men and horses. The remaining guns nevertheless kept up harassing fire on the enemy.

At one point the brigade was covering the bridge crossing at Brie, at another the canal from Eterpigny to Chapelette. After the enemy gained a footing on the high ground above Villers Charbonnel the brigade was ordered to retire to west of Assevillers but to continue with day and night fire.

On 28th March, when the enemy broke through west of Harbonniers, the brigade was moved to Caix and then Beaucourt. As the enemy continued to advance in large numbers the brigade was called into action again. After they ran out of ammunition they were ordered to retire across the river at Moreuil and rendezvous at Rouvrel, but at Rouvrel they were heavily engaged by aeroplanes and also shelled.

The situation after this became confused as the battle fluctuated and the batteries were moved around to new positions until they were relieved on the night of the 7th/8th April. Casualties numbered 113 men and 95 horses.

Between 8th and 24th April the brigade was at rest at Yonval before moving to St. Jean on 24th. From here one section of each battery went into action near Villers Bretonneux.

John died, aged 24, on 29th April 1918 when an enemy shell burst on the building where several men were billeted.

John and another soldier were killed instantly, while others were wounded.

John’s Commanding Officer wrote to his sisters as follows: “He had done such splendid work out here as a driver, always brave and cool in time of danger. He was a gallant soldier.”

His Corporal wrote: “He was very willing and highly respected by all officers and men of the Battery.”

John was buried in Blangy-Tronville Communal Cemetery, Somme, Grave 20.

John’s brother James served with the 1/5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment and was awarded the Military Medal. He survived the war.